Skip to main content
Close

Bull Shark

Carcharhinus leucas

Published on Project Noah
Zoom
NominateNominate for Wildlife Photograph of the Month
reportFlag Spotting

20.6444, -87.0461

Field Notes

Description:

Bull sharks are large and stout, with females being larger than males. The bull shark can be up to 81 centimetres (2.66 ft) in length at birth[18] and grow up to 3.5 metres (11 ft) (though a 13-footer was caught in a South African river) and weigh 318 kilograms (700 lb).[19] Bull sharks are wider than other requiem sharks of comparable length, and are grey on top and white below. The second dorsal fin is smaller than the first. Per the National Geographic program Animal Face-Off, bull sharks have a bite force of up to 567 kilograms (1,250 lb).
The bull shark's caudal fin is longer and lower than that of the average shark. It has a small snout. There is a lack of an interdorsal ridge

Habitat:

The bull shark lives all over the world in many different areas and travels long distances. It is common in coastal areas of warm oceans, in rivers and lakes, and occasionally salt and freshwater streams if they are deep enough. It is found to a depth of 150 metres (490 ft) but does not usually swim deeper than 30 metres (98 ft).[7] In the Atlantic it is found from Massachusetts to southern Brazil, and from Morocco to Angola. In the Indian Ocean it is found from South Africa to Kenya, India, and Vietnam to Australia.

Notes:

Every year, from November to January, female bull sharks agregate in on the drop off infront of Playa del Carmen, Mexico. They come to our coast to give birth to their pups in one of the many lagoons in Quintana Roo.

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (1)

Photographed
PublishedNovember 11, 2011

Accelerate our Mission to Photograph 
Every Species in the World!

Image
Butterflies icon

Wildlife Community

Wildlife Community

Join a worldwide community passionate about wildlife and nature!

Join Project Noah

Nature School

Nature School

Transform your green space into a curiosity-creating nature classroom!

Visit Nature School

Wildlife Game

Wildlife Game

Defend wildlife throughout the jungle in thrilling nature game!

Play Baboon